There are likely to be two new providers of global maritime distress and safety systems (GMDSS) by 2020 as shipping’s regulator attempts to bring the near 30-year-old system up to date with advanced satellite and communications technology.
In the first stage of the IMO's modernisation of the GMDSS service, its Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) has given the green light to US satellite company Iridium and Chinese counterpart BeiDou to progress with their bids to become GMDSS providers.
